UK airports face nationwide border system issue, causing major delays
LONDON Passengers flying into Britain faced major delays after landing at airports on Saturday due to a nationwide
2023-05-27 20:16
5 talking points: Three clubs battle for Premier League survival on last day
All eyes will be on the battle for survival and the scrap for the final European place on the final day of Premier League season on Sunday. Here, the PA news agency looks at the main talking points. Everton in the box-seat Everton are one of three clubs in danger, with two making the drop alongside already-relegated Southampton this weekend. But the Toffees at least have control of their own destiny heading into a Goodison Park clash against Bournemouth, knowing that a 70th-successive season in the top-flight awaits if they match the results of Leicester and Leeds. It promises to be a nervous afternoon, though, with Everton’s cause not helped by injury absentees Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Nathan Patterson and Ben Godfrey. Foxes’ future looks bleak Seven years after the charismatic Claudio Ranieri masterminded Leicester’s stunning Premier League title triumph, the Foxes look Championship-bound. They host West Ham knowing that victory over the Hammers might not be enough to keep them in the top division. Dean Smith’s team must win and hope Everton do not collect maximum points against Bournemouth, otherwise their fate will be sealed. It is all a far cry from May 7, 2016, when Ranieri and captain Wes Morgan held aloft the Premier League trophy. Leeds need a minor miracle Sam Allardyce faced mission improbable when he was parachuted in as Leeds manager with just four games of the season left after Javi Gracia was sacked. And so it has proved, with Allardyce overseeing one draw and two defeats so far. Nothing less than a win will do for Leeds against Tottenham at Elland Road and even then they need the results from both the Everton and Leicester matches to go their way. Battle for Europe Tottenham have their own targets to worry about during their trip to West Yorkshire. After spending much of the season battling for a Champions League spot, they could miss out on Europe altogether as they fight Aston Villa and Brentford for seventh and a place in the Europa Conference League. Villa are in pole position and know a win at home to Europa League-bound Brighton will be enough to secure European qualification for the first time since 2010. Anything less would open the door for Spurs, who last did not feature in continental competition in the 2009-10 campaign. Should both slip up, then Brentford can secure European football for the first time in their history if they manage to win at home to champions Manchester City. Pep Guardiola’s balancing act What kind of City side awaits Brentford remains to be seen. With the Premier League title already won, City’s hopes of a trophy treble rest with the FA Cup final against Manchester United on June 3 then the Champions League final versus Inter Milan seven days later. It will be about finding a balance between resting players and avoiding rustiness ahead of those games, so rotation can be expected for Sunday’s trip. Kevin De Bruyne and Erling Haaland could be among those rested, but if Haaland plays, it will be a last chance to extend his remarkable Premier League goalscoring record of 36 this term. Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Aston Villa’s final step in European bid will be hardest – Unai Emery Ryan Mason ‘trusts the people making decisions’ at Tottenham ahead of key summer Thomas Frank inspired by ‘best coach’ Pep Guardiola’s work
2023-05-27 19:26
Aston Villa’s final step in European bid will be hardest – Unai Emery
Boss Unai Emery admits Aston Villa’s final step to return to Europe will be their hardest. Villa host Brighton on Sunday knowing victory would seal a European comeback for the first time since 2010-11. It would book seventh in the Premier League and a Europa Conference League play-off spot but Emery knows it is a tough test. “We have to be very ambitious and I am. I’m here trying to push everybody, to demand from everybody to get better playing and to take European places,” he said. “We have to take each step being strong and being passionate about how to do it. We are in this way. We are progressing very well. “I’m very, very happy with the players and their commitment, their character and they are responding very well. We are also connecting with our supporters. “We are in the first step. If we achieve our objective on Sunday, we will be very, very happy. “It’s the next step because we started by escaping from the bottom (of the table), we got into the top 10 and then we have the objective to be in the European places. “The most difficult step is to get it, but we have our objective. And then if we don’t, it’s not changing our idea or our mind about how we want to improve.” Brighton have already qualified for the Europa League, sealing sixth place with Wednesday’s 1-1 draw against Manchester City. Boss Roberto De Zerbi has impressed since replacing Graham Potter in September and Emery is an admirer. He said: “Football is changing so quickly. I’m 51 years old, I started coaching at 32, so I’ve had 19 years as a coach and manager. “Always I am very focussed on how I can improve each day to be today, better than yesterday, to be tomorrow, better than today. “It’s not only about my work or my experiences or my analysis, it’s about trying to watch other coaches. One of them is Roberto De Zerbi. “I like coaches who can show us something different tactically, offensively and defensively. In football, you have to be in the fast train because it moves so quickly.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live 5 talking points: Three clubs battle for Premier League survival on last day Ryan Mason ‘trusts the people making decisions’ at Tottenham ahead of key summer Thomas Frank inspired by ‘best coach’ Pep Guardiola’s work
2023-05-27 19:23
Deaths and tragedy from the 1973 Indy 500 opened the door for safety evolution in racing
Johnny Rutherford and Gordon Johncock will always be linked to the 1973 Indianapolis 500
2023-05-27 19:22
Angels' Bachman becomes first top-10 pick from 2021 draft to reach majors
It didn’t take long for Sam Bachman to make his big league debut
2023-05-27 18:24
Father knows best: Keith Tkachuk's words came at just the right time for Panthers
Keith Tkachuk never played a game for the Florida Panthers, and hadn’t recorded an assist at the NHL level in nearly 13 years
2023-05-27 18:24
Motor racing-Hamilton rumours all part of F1's fuelled-up 'Silly Season'
MONACO Having lived in Monte Carlo for nearly three decades David Coulthard knows a good bet when he
2023-05-27 18:18
Thomas Frank inspired by ‘best coach’ Pep Guardiola’s work
Brentford boss Thomas Frank has described Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola as the best coach in the modern era and an inspiration ahead of Sunday’s game at the Gtech Community Stadium. City’s recent Premier League title win was their fifth under Guardiola’s stewardship and they will look to build on that in the FA Cup and Champions League finals next month. Frank, whose side won at City in November, talked up treble-chasing Guardiola’s impact on the game which he admitted has inspired him during his managerial career. “He’s top class, after the game he said it was well deserved (Brentford’s win). I only come across him when he shows class all the way through and I look forward to congratulating him on winning the Premier League,” Frank said. “Many people have spoken about Pep Guardiola for good reasons. I think he is in the modern era, the best coach, most innovative, he’s developed the game massively. “I studied him a lot when he was at Barcelona and followed him closely, I’ve been inspired by his work and he’s definitely an inspiration.” Brentford will have to deal with record-breaking striker Erling Haaland, who has netted 36 Premier League goals in his debut campaign. Frank lauded the 22-year-old for his impact on English football since his transfer from Borussia Dortmund. “Haaland added a different dimension to City, he is so good in the box,” Frank added. “If you see the disallowed goal against Brighton he makes four or five movements before the cross comes in, it’s very rare for me to see this from a striker. “He’s always on the move which is so difficult to defend against, he is also always focussed and believes the ball will come in for every chance. “A top finisher who can use the left foot, right foot and header but I think the biggest thing he’s given them is the pace in behind. “I think it’s very impressive the amount of goals he’s scored which has destroyed the Premier League and there is probably even more to come. “I know he broke the record this year and he’ll probably break it again next year.” Frank highlighted the quality in City’s squad as he tried to predict which line-up Guardiola will pick. He said: “They have 22 unbelievable players so who is the best? (Ruben) Dias or (Aymeric) Laporte? I don’t know that, I am not sure even Pep knows that, that’s two top players. “Who’s on the wing? (Jack) Grealish, (Phil) Foden, (Riyad) Mahrez or (Bernardo) Silva? I myself wouldn’t know who to pick so they put world-class players out there and we need to top perform, our fans need to top perform and we need to finish off the season in style.”
2023-05-27 17:56
The Rock looking to follow Ryan Reynolds and make the 'new Wrexham'
Football fans have marveled at the success that Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney have had since they took over Wrexham and Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson could be following in their footsteps. The former WWE champion turned Hollywood a-lister is reportedly in contact with a group looking to take over Southend United who currently play in the National League. Integral Sports Management is made up of local businessmen who are looking to purchase the club which has been up for sale since March following years of financial struggles. ISM is said to have made contact with The Rock's production company Seven Bucks Productions who might be interested in making a Welcome to Wrexham-style documentary about the club should the takeover go through. Sign up to our free Indy100 weekly newsletter Another actor potentially involved in the deal is Ray Winstone. The 66-year-old is a die-hard West Ham United fan but is a co-founder of ISM and will likely be involved with The Shrimpers should the purchase progress. Southend dropped out of the football league for the first time in their history in 2021 and have remained in the National League ever since. Financial troubles have rocked the club in recent years with a transfer embargo being in place since September due to money owed to HMRC. Full-time office staff haven't been paid for their work in March and April and have until July 12 to pay off the £250,000 debt that they owe. Like many football fans, Southend supporters will be more than aware of the success that celebrity owners can bring having played against Wrexham for the past two years. The Welsh club secured promotion back to the EFL after 18 years away earlier this year, spearheaded by the investment and interest that Reynolds and McElhenney have brought to the team. Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.
2023-05-27 17:51
Ryan Mason ‘trusts the people making decisions’ at Tottenham ahead of key summer
Ryan Mason has trust in the key decision-makers at Tottenham to get the big calls right this summer. Spurs’ acting head coach Mason will take his squad to relegation-threatened Leeds on the final day in what is set to be his last fixture in charge. Eighth-placed Tottenham remain without a permanent manager or managing director of football and could miss out on Europe for the first time since the 2009-10 campaign unless they better Aston Villa’s result and match Brentford’s on Sunday. Crunch decisions are required by chairman Daniel Levy and the board, with a promise already made to supporters over the style Spurs will try to play next season. Last Saturday’s programme notes from Levy pledged the team will go back to “football you will love to come and watch” after the recent pragmatism and counter-attacking of Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte. Mason feels a stable brand of football will help, and he said: “We’ve probably had two or three different styles of football in the last two or three years and I don’t think that is good for any squad of players or for fans. “When you lose people, lose coaches, lose players, lose members of staff, the impact is huge if you keep going from different things. “Like I say, going forward it really is important and we see it in the Premier League, we see it across the leagues, I want people to know who Tottenham are, know what a Tottenham team looks like and certainly know what a Tottenham player looks like. “This is just how I view the situation as it is. Obviously there will be loads of conversations in the summer about going forward. “There is a lot of people here who really care and want the club to get back to where we want, where we expect and where we hope to be. “Them conversations and decisions I am sure will be made in the summer. I trust the people making them decisions.” Quizzed about how the managerial search could impact Spurs’ transfer business, Mason admitted the club need a new man in place before they can go after targets. If you want to be successful on the pitch then everyone working for the organisation within the football club has to be on board with what we are and who we are. Ryan Mason “There is work because we have a big squad, a lot of players on loan and decisions to make,” he said. “The most important work is probably away from the transfer window right now because you need a manager in place, you need commitment, you need an idea to know where you go. “You can’t do transfer business without a manager because it might not fit his idea. At the moment I believe we need an idea of what we want to do, who we want to be and stick to it. Recruit people for that and ultimately recruit players for that.” There remains uncertainty over the future of Harry Kane, who is approaching the final year of his Spurs contract. Mason would not be drawn on what next for the Tottenham forward but insisted it is imperative every club has a long-term plans in place. He added: “For any player, manager, member of staff at this football club, when one leaves it’s important to have a succession plan in place. “So, when people do leave, the next one comes in and the impact isn’t so big. That’s not just speaking about Harry. That’s speaking about other players. “For me, it’s really important that there’s an identity in all departments. “If you want to be successful on the pitch then everyone working for the organisation within the football club has to be on board with what we are and who we are. “I hope going forward that’s definitely the case.”
2023-05-27 17:51
No extra motivation for Aleksandar Mitrovic heading back to scene of meltdown
Fulham boss Marco Silva insists Aleksandar Mitrovic has nothing to prove on his Old Trafford return following an FA Cup meltdown there in March. Mitrovic was handed an eight-game ban after grabbing referee Chris Kavanagh during Fulham’s FA Cup quarter-final defeat to Manchester United. The Serbia striker has scored three goals in two games since returning from suspension – taking his total for the season in all competitions to 15 – and ends his best top-flight campaign on Sunday back at Old Trafford. Asked if Mitrovic will be especially fired up against United, Silva said: “No, not at all. Mitro doesn’t need this type of incentive. “I think he showed in 25 minutes against Southampton that it doesn’t matter the club that he is going to play against, (and) last week against Palace. “He is Mitro, he doesn’t need to play against certain types of teams or in certain situations to be more motivated.” Fulham will end the campaign 10th whatever happens at United – their first top-half Premier League finish since coming ninth in 2012 – but the Cottagers have a powerful incentive to finish the season on a high. Victory will set a new Premier League points record for the club, a draw will match the 53 points achieved in 2008-09 under Roy Hodgson. Silva said: “It’s a brilliant season for us, no doubts about it. For everything, not just because about the position we have to be proud of. “The position we are going to finish, the way we achieve it. The way we keep improving the individual and collective of our squad. It’s been really good. “We knew before this season started that it would be crucial for this club to remain in Premier League. “Credit to the players because of the right mindset, they are always ready to learn and work. “They bought our ideas and philosophy as well to the way we are going to play football.” United secured a top-four finish and Champions League football next season by beating Chelsea 4-1 on Thursday. Erik ten Hag’s squad will expect a rousing Old Trafford send-off on Sunday before next weekend’s FA Cup final date with neighbours Manchester City. “They already played one final (Carabao Cup) and they are going to play another one,” said Silva, whose side have suffered late league and cup defeats to United this season. “For a club like Man United it is really important that they are fighting for some titles. They changed some things (this season), they signed good players – two or three that made a huge impact in their squad as well. “I think they’ve been showing this season that they’re a massive club. “The individual quality they have, in my opinion, is clearly in the best teams in this league. “They have players in the attack line and midfield line who can decide the game in one second if you switch off.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Liverpool’s lack of final-day drama ‘completely new’ to boss Jurgen Klopp Frank Lampard will be ‘back at Chelsea many times’ as a fan after interim role Ruben Selles urges Southampton to end wretched season on positive note
2023-05-27 17:23
Pep Guardiola looking beyond last league match to cup finals
Pep Guardiola admits his thoughts have already turned to the first of Manchester City’s two upcoming finals. Treble-chasing City face arch-rivals Manchester United in the FA Cup final at Wembley next week before heading to Istanbul to take on Inter Milan in the Champions League showpiece seven days later. The newly-crowned champions must first wrap up their Premier League campaign at Brentford on Sunday but, with little riding on the outcome at the Gtech Community Stadium, Guardiola admits he is planning ahead. The Inter game may remain at the back of the mind for now, but the United clash is starting to loom large in the City manager’s thoughts. Guardiola said: “I would say I saw a little bit of Inter last week but not this week. I am more focused on United right now. “I saw their game against Chelsea. I was really impressed and I have started to review a little bit what they did to us in the game at Old Trafford. “As in the past, we have to be careful. I would be careful anyway but after Thursday and their games recently, we are going to prepare the best we can.” Guardiola has a balancing act to play this weekend. He may wish to rest some players ahead of the finals but he feels it is also important that others maintain their sharpness. Jack Grealish, Aymeric Laporte, Ruben Dias and Manuel Akanji were not risked at Brighton in midweek having not been deemed fully fit but big guns Erling Haaland, Kevin De Bruyne, Rodri and Bernardo Silva all featured. Guardiola said: “Brighton helped us to maintain the level and hopefully Brentford will help us to maintain this rhythm to play the finals. “We need that but it is important to arrive in the last week before the finals with people fit and ready. “The Brentford game will be completely different to Brighton. I know it is meaningless in terms of the points but, in terms of sustaining the demanding effort, they will push us. It will be so difficult.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live
2023-05-27 16:26